MINUTES

 

  REGIONAL AIR QUALITY COUNCIL

   Thursday, October 7, 1999

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Shirleen Tucker, CHAIRMAN

Dennis Arfmann, Holme Roberts & Owen

Theresa Donahue, City & County of Denver

Jane Norton, Colo. Dept. Public Hlth & Env.

Don Parsons, DRCOG

Jim Scherer

Melanie Worley, Douglas County

 

MEMBERS NOT IN ATTENDANCE:

Tom Norton, Colo. Dept. of Transportation (Excused)

Sharon Votruba, City of Thornton (Excused)

 

OTHERS PRESENT:

Ken Lloyd, RAQC; Misty Howell, RAQC; Patrick Cummins, RAQC; Jerry Dilley, RAQC; Annmarie Jensen, RAQC; Gerald Gallagher, APCD; Rick Barrett, APCD; Julio Iturreria, Arapahoe County; George Gerstle, CDOT; Bob Brady, Coors Brewing Company/AQCC; Dan Roberts, Denver Street Maintenance; Jim Ives, City of Aurora; Carol Maclennan , Tri-County Health; Jakes Conradie, Tri-County Health; Bill Sirois, Denver Transportation; Dick Watt; Robin Smith, FHWA; Lucy Nolan, Coloradans for Clean Air; Debbie Weaver, RTD; Jeff May, DRCOG; Senator Pat Pascoe; Cindy Christiansen, Downtown Denver Partnership; Carolyn McIntosh, City of Lafayette; Steve Foute, Denver; Alice Luhan, Denver; and Frank Johnson, Attorney General’s Office.

____________________________________________________________________________________

 

The meeting was called to order at 3:00 p.m.  A quorum was present.

 

 

Approval of the Agenda

 

Shirleen Tucker indicated that agenda would need to be amended so the transportation conformity item will follow the inspection/maintenance item.  Don Parsons moved to accept the agenda as amended.  Seconded by Melanie Worley.  Motion passed without objection.

 

 

Approval of the Minutes

 

Theresa Donahue requested that the minutes reflect that she submitted written comments to Council regarding the CO maintenance plan for the September 2nd meeting. 

 

Shirleen Tucker indicated that September 2nd minutes should note that Council was welcomed to Jefferson County by Commissioner Rick Sheehan.

 

Jim Scherer moved to accept the September 2nd minutes as amended.  Seconded by Melanie Worley.  Motion passed without objection.

Melanie Worley moved to accept the September 21st minutes.  Seconded by Jim Scherer.  Motion passed without objection.

 

 

Informational Items

 

Chairman:

 

Shirleen Tucker indicated the local government outreach activities have been going well.

 

 

Executive Director:

 

Ken Lloyd informed Council that the CO Maintenance Plan Question & Answer sheet was sent to all metro area Cities and Counties as well as Chambers of Commerce.  Jim Martin from Environmental Defense Fund has agreed to distribute the Q&A sheet to the environmental coalition. 

 

Ken also notified Council that Melanie and Don will discuss the maintenance plan at the next DRCOG Board meeting.

 

Ken, Patrick Cummins, Dennis Arfmann and Shirleen Tucker met with CACI members earlier this week to discuss the CO Maintenance Plan.  CACI members endorsed the RAQC’s plan.

 

As requested, staff made some preliminary inquiries into dates and locations for a public meeting.  Council chose Tuesday, October 26th, 7:00-9:00 p.m. at the Denver Public Library and directed staff to publicize the meeting.

 

Ken asked Council if they wanted to continue to hold meetings around the region.  Council agreed it was important to continue having meetings at various locations.  The November 4th  meeting will be held in Adams County and staff will work on setting up the January 6th meeting in Douglas County.

 

Members:

 

Don Parsons presented recognition awards to former RAQC members who were present at the meeting - Dick Watt, a citizen member, and Carolyn McIntosh, who represented small cities.

 

Committees:

 

No Reports.

 

 

Public Comment

 

None.

 

 

Denver Community Initiatives

 

Theresa Donahue welcomed the Council back to Denver.

 

Downtown Denver Partnership - Denver’s Transportation Management Organization

 

Cindy Christiansen gave a brief overview of how the Downtown Denver TMO was created and how it works.  She explained that originally the  TMO was a stand-alone department, but in 1997 it was integrated into the economic development services department.  The mission of the TMO is to develop and implement creative and cost effective programs to reduce congestion, improve access and mobility for Downtown constituents and improve air quality.

 

She indicated that the priorities for TMO include transit development, Center City access, Neighborhood access, Central Platte Valley growth and management, intermodal facility development, and parking management.

 

Denver Environmental Protection Division - Overview of work related to air quality

 

Steve Foute, Director - Environmental Protection Division, briefed Council on the various programs currently done though the Environmental Protection Division.  The mobile sources program includes environmental transportation coordinators, bus pass incentives, the bike depot (temporary bike valet for Bike to Work Week), Pollution Solution, smoking/idling vehicles ordinance, the green fleets executive order, and the Clean Cities program.

 

He also explained that the City and County of Denver has begun refining and building upon the results of EPA’s Cumulative Exposure Project, and the ASPEN and Industrial Sources Complex models to determine if there are areas of the city with undue concentrations of uses and problems based upon emissions of hazardous air pollutants.  This program will be implemented in mid-2000.

 

Denver Transportation Division - City’s mitigation plan for development in the

       Central Platte Valley

 

Bill Sirois, Senior Transportation Planner, reviewed the Central Platte Valley Multimodal Access and Air Quality Study.  He stated the study was conducted because of concern regarding the impact of development on air quality.  The study was completed in March 1998.

 

The study included technical oversight from the RAQC, RTD, CDOT and APCD, as well as input from Central Platte Valley (CPV) stakeholders.  The recommended actions from the study which have been implemented include: construction of a CPV light rail spur (currently funded), development of a traffic management implementation plan (completed September 1999), and encourage the use of transportation demand management (TDM) measures by CPV employers.  Program actions to be addressed in the future include: study alternatives for a CPV circulator shuttle, promote shared parking, and evaluate the feasibility of a CPV debit card.

Denver Environmental Services Division - Ozone Reduction Efforts

 

Alice Luhan advised Council of the ozone reduction efforts conducted by the City and County of Denver. Denver has many proactive strategies already implemented.  The City’s 1999 ozone awareness program included educating and involving departments within the City and also communicating each departments’ strategies throughout the City.

 

The Environmental Services Division took steps to identify departments which have the largest VOC use, 2-cycle engine use and those which have the greatest overall impact on ground-level ozone production.

 

The City made the following commitments during high ozone alerts: limit 2-cycle engine use, postpone use of solvents, reschedule painting/striping projects, postpone exterior painting jobs, and reduce mowing operations.   The 1999 program was very successful.

 

Denver Public Works Department - Snow removal and street sanding program

 

Dan Roberts, Street Maintenance,  explained the City will be initiating a pilot program this winter to use dry de-icers.   He said that Magnesium Chloride will still be used in the downtown area.

 

 

Inspection/Maintenance Program Redesign Issues

 

Patrick Cummins gave Council an overview of the redesign issues.  He explained that the changes to Regulation No. 11 would be proposed to the AQCC on October 21, 1999.  He further explained the proposed procedures for approval of the CO SIP and Regulations Nos. 11 & 13 are the quickest way to get the plan to EPA.

 

Jim Scherer moved to follow the proposed procedures for approval of the CO SIP and Regulations No. 11 and 13 as outlined in the proposal dated October 7, 1999 and to look and high emitters and dirty screening separately from the CO maintenance plan.  Seconded by Don Parsons.  The motion passed without objection.

 

Ken Lloyd reviewed the changes that would need to be made to Regulation 11.  Patrick recognized the staff at the APCD and the Attorney General’s office for their assistance in determining the changes needed for Regulation 11.

 

There was discussion on how the clean screening and remote sensing would be phased in.

 

Council discussed whether or not high emitters and smoking vehicles should be on the Council’s schedule for discussion in the future.  Jim Scherer suggested Council look at these issues.  But it is important that they be kept separate from the CO maintenance plan.  Since decisions regarding these issues will be made in the legislature the solutions should be left to the legislature.  However, the RAQC may want to list alternatives and possibly make recommendations to the legislature.   Shirleen Tucker suggested that Council work with interested legislators if a bill is proposed and be prepared to address these issues.

 

Jane Norton stated it is important to keep the CO maintenance plan package neat, clean and concise so that the region gets redesignated expeditiously.  The high emitters and smoking vehicles issues need further discussion and should be kept separate from this package.

 

Jim Scherer emphasized that the RAQC needs to recognize these issues and create an action plan.  He indicated that there might be opposition to a tight package if some legislators feel the RAQC is skirting around the issues. Council needs to be able to express support for addressing these issues in some manner.

 

Frank Johnson, Assistant Attorney General, explained to Council how the Senate Bill 110 process works.  Senator Pat Pascoe indicated that rules are not debatable after Legislative Council has reviewed them.  The Legislature only votes on rules to be thrown out. 

 

Theresa Donahue stated that Council should be prepared for these issues to be part of the discussion on the CO maintenance plan.

 

Jane Norton moved that the CO maintenance plan subcommittee meet again to look at how to address the high emitters and smoking vehicles issue. The subcommittee should list the pros and cons of each issue and report by the December meeting.  Seconded by Theresa Donahue.  The motion passed without objection.

 

 

Discussion of Transportation Ballot Issues - Referendum A and RTD Ballot

 

Don Parsons withdrew his request for Council to discuss these issues.   He indicated it may be counter-productive for the RAQC to get involved with these issues.

 

 

Background on Transportation Conformity Requirements

 

Postponed until November meeting.

 

There being no further business before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at  5:30 p.m.